Influence of Inclusion of Banana Meal in the Diet on Growth Performance of Pigs

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of diets supplemented with banana meal (BM); obtained from agricultural waste) on pig growth performance. Nutritive value of by-product was carried out (banana meal, BM) using 16 growing pigs (Landrace × Pietrain) in four groups fed four diets with different BM levels. Each diet included BM in different proportions: commercial diet A (0% BM), other commercial diet B (0% BM), D10 experimental diet (10% BM) and D50 experimental diet (50% BM). Diet D10 showed comparable values for weight gain (36.12 kg) with diet A and B (32.43 and 33.00 kg) however, these values were higher that those in D 50 diet. D10 experimental diet did not affect feed conversion rate (FCR) was comparable to commercial diets. FCR values increased when BM was included at 50% level in the diet.